How we think Southampton might line up next season

Southampton have experienced something of a revival under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The squad may be incomplete, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a Saints fan who wasn’t happy with the man at the helm of the club.

Despite not mathematically being safe from relegation yet, it would be hugely surprising to see Southampton drop into the second tier of English football.

The south coast outfit have been linked with a few names over the last few weeks and months, and we’ve taken account of the rumours and constructed a possible Southampton starting XI for opening day next season.

CB: Jan Bednarek

CB: Kevin Danso

Here’s a transfer I would love to see! Danso has started to break into Augsburg’s team in the Bundesliga this season, and the Austrian international could be tempted to St Mary’s by his compatriot Hasenhuttl.

RWB: Joakim Maehle

Southampton had a bid turned down for the Genk right-back in January, and I think the Saints could still make a move for the Danish 21-year-old despite the emergence of Yan Valery. Can’t have too many good, young defenders!

CAM: Nathan Redmond

CAM: Jean-Kevin Augustin

The RB Leipzig man has been linked with a move to Southampton, where he’d be reunited with his old boss. A striker by trade, I wonder if Hasenhuttl would try and convert the diminutive Augustin into one of his CAM roles.